HAMPSTEAD — Three union contracts — for police, teachers, and custodians and school kitchen workers — passed muster at the ballot box yesterday. But two other money questions — $82,300 to hire two more full-time police officers and $42,500 on a lease/purchase agreement for a Fire Department command vehicle — failed.
In the only contested race, incumbent School Board member Jaye Dimando and newcomer Gregory Hoppa were elected. Hoppa was the top vote-getter in the five-way race for two seats. Dimando was the only incumbent running.
Turnout was about 22 percent. Town Clerk Patricia Curran said 1,363 of the town's 6,207 registered voters cast ballots.
Both the $5.1 million town operating budget and the $22.4 million school budget passed. Voters in both instances were presented with a choice of approving the budgets or rejecting the proposals and paying more to run local government and the schools on default budgets.
The police union contract is the town government's first collective bargaining agreement. The three-year pact with the New England Police Benevolent Association Local 37 calls for raising $19,662 through taxes this year. The deal will cost $13,789 in the second year and $212 in the third year.
The addition of two police officers failed, 631-683.
Several voters said the contested School Board race brought them to the polls. The economy was on at least one voter's mind.
Donna Hermle said she voted for two citizens petitions, which advise local officials to cap spending.
"I think everyone's a little concerned about raising taxes again," she said.
In the school district election, voters considered eight warrant articles, including the proposed $22.4 million operating budget and two collective bargaining agreements — a new pact for teachers and another for custodians and kitchen workers.
School Board member Vivian Clark, who negotiated the contract, said previously teachers would receive increases of approximately 2 percent each year of the contract.
Budget Committee member Jorge Mesa-Tejada said previously the committee supported both the teachers contract and the support staff contract, which provides moderate increases through 2012-2013.
